Google executive chairman Eric Schmidt has called upon the US government to regulate the use of civilian drones, warning that they pose a privacy and security risk.

The web giant's former CEO believes that the technology could potentially be misused not just by terrorists, but by everyday people too.

"You're having a dispute with your neighbour," Schmidt told The Guardian. "How would you feel if your neighbour went over and bought a commercial observation drone that they can launch from their backyard. It just flies over your house all day. How would you feel about it?"

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The Google boss went on to say that governments cannot afford to ignore the issue any longer because the potential risks of drones falling into the wrong hands is too great.

He added: "I'm not going to pass judgment on whether armies should exist, but I would prefer to not spread and democratise the ability to fight war to every single human being.

"It's got to be regulated... It's one thing for governments, who have some legitimacy in what they're doing, but have other people doing it... it's not going to happen."

Schmidt resigned from the role of Google CEO in 2011 after holding the position for ten years, at which point co-founder Larry Page took up the top job.